Ticket dispensing device



Dec.' 3, 1957 F. 'r. WEIR ETAL TICKET DISPENSING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 15, 1954 INVENTORS FRANKLIN Z WEIR 3, 1957 F. T. WEIR ETAL ncxm nxsmusms DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 15, 1954 INVENTORJ' FRANKLIN 7." W512 FEED C1472 y /OHN H. GARTNER ATTORNEYS TICKET DISPENSING DEVICE Franklin Torres Weir, Burlingame, Fred Catz, San Francisco, and John H. Gartner, Kentfield, Califi, assignors to Self Park System, San Francisco, Calitl, a corporation of California Application November 15, 1954, Serial No. 468,879 4 Claims. (Cl. 271--2.4)

This invention relates generally to ticket dispensing devices and more particularly to devices of this type which are suitable for use at unattended locations.

In ticket dispensing devices such as have been used in the past, it has been found that they are generally unduly complicated and hence expensive to manufacture. Many of the parts are subject to the excessive wear necessitating replacement. In addition the construction of these devices has been such that they can be easily jimmied. Moreover, since devices of this kind are constantly exposed to the elements, they must be rugged in construction. 1

In general it is an object of this invention to provide a ticket dispensing device which is relatively simple and fool-proof and which can be used to advantage in unattended locations.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the above character wherein the working parts have been kept to a minimum and wherein the working parts are not subjected to excessive wear.

Additional objects of the invention will appear from the following description in which the preferred embodiment of the invention has been set forth in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a rear elevational view of a ticket dispensing device incorporating the present invention with the cover on the rear of the device removed.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the device taken along the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged elevational view of a portion of the device taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged elevational view of a portion of the device taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged elevational view of a portion of the device taken along the line 55 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is an enlarged elevational view of the pawl and ratchet wheel mechanism.

Figure 7 is an enlarged elevational view of the dog assembly.

In general, the present invention consists of a ticket dispensing mechanism adapted to be operated by a coin slide.

The embodiment of my device shown in the drawings consists of a panel 11 which serves as a mounting for a ticket dispensing mechanism 12, a ticket receptacle 13, a coin slide 14 and a coin container 16. A series of tickets 17 which have been perforated at appropriate in- 2,815,206 Patented Dec. 3, 1957 plates 22 and 23 by any suitable means such as screws 26; The brackets 24 are fastened to the panel 11 by suitable means such as bolts 27.

A ratchet wheel 28 is mounted on the drum shaft 21 and is fixed to the drum 19 by means of rivets 31 (Figure 6). The ratchet wheel 28 is provided with a plurality of notches 32 which are adapted to be engaged by spring operated pawl 33. Pawl 33 is pivotally mounted at 34 on a sector shaped member 36 which is journalled on the drum shaft 21. Member 36 is provided with a mounting lug 37 which serves to engage one end of spring 38. The other end of the spring 38 engages pawl 33 and serves to continuously urge it towards ratchet wheel 28.

Member 36 is also provided with a pin 39 which is adapted to be engaged by the slot 41 in the arm 42. Arm 42 is pivotally mounted at 43 on the upper portion of the plate 23, and a spring 44 serves to continually urge the arm 42 to the left as viewed in Figures 2 and 3. Spring 44 has one end connected to a pin 46 mounted on arm 42 and the other end to mounting lug 47 on plate 23.

Plate 23 is provided with an arcuate slot 48 which is adapted to accommodate the arcuate motion of pin 30. Pin 39 is adapted to be moved in this arcuate slot by coin slide 14 through arm 42 in a manner hereinafter to be described.

Near the outer circumference on one end of the drum 19, we have provided a plurality of detents 51 which are adapted to be engaged by a detent catch 52 and a dog mechanism 53. The number of detents should be equal tothe number of notches 32. The detent catch 52 is riveted to the plate 23 and serves to prevent reverse rotation of the drum 19 beyond a certain angular distance because the detents 51 cannot pass the detent catch 52 in this direction of rotation of the drum as is readily apparent from Figures 1 and 5. The dog mechanism 53 serves to prevent forward rotation of the drum except when the drum is rotated by the coin slide 14.

The dog mechanism consists of a dog 54 which is pivotally mounted at 56 to the plate 23. An actuating member 57 is pivotally mounted at 58 in a substantially V- shaped groove 59 in dog 54. Actuating member 57 is provided with an ear 61 which is adapted to be engaged by pin 39 in slot 48 in such a manner so as to depress member- 57 and dog 54. The actuating member 57 is maintained in a forward position by spring 62 having one end attached to an arm 63 which is integrally attached to the actuating member 57. The other end of the spring 62 is attached to a lug 64 on plate 23. The V-shaped groove 59 and the spring 62 allows the ear 61 to be pushed to an out-of-the-way position when the pin 39 is returning to its normal position shown in Figure 3.

The dog 54 and the actuating member 57 are continuously urged in an upward direction, as viewed in Figure 7, by a coil spring 66 which has the coil end mounted on the pivot 56. Rotation of the coil end is prevented by pin 56a fixed to pivot 56. The other end of spring 66 engages the lower portion of the dog 54. Upward travel of the dog 54 is limited by the projection 67 which is fixed to plate 23.

The drum 19 may be provided with suitable, means for engaging the tickets 17 which in this instance consists of a plurality of projections 71 uniformly spaced about the drum circumference. The tickets 17 are provided with holes 72 so that the tickets can be fitted over the drum 19. Thus, it is apparent that as the drum is rotated, the tickets will be drawn from the ticket receptacle 13 and fed through the dispensing slot 18. The dispensing slot 18 is formed of a pair of plates 73 and 74 which may be suitably attached to plates 22 and 23. A pair of spring arms 76 are riveted to the plate 74 and are curved to the contour of the drum. These arms serve to hold the tickets 17 on the projections 71 on the drum.

Suitable means may be provided for aligning the tickets as they pass from the ticket receptacle 13 so that the projections 71 will engage the holes 72. Such means may consist of a roller 78 mounted transversely of the drum 19 and which is provided with a groove 79 to accommodate the projections 71. Roller 78 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 81 which is supported by a pair of arms 82 pivotally mounted on shaft 83 carried by plates 22 and 23. Roller 78 is provided with a pair of flanges 84 which are fixed to the ends of the roller and which are adapted to engage the opposite sides of the tickets as they pass from the ticket receptacle 13. The roller 78 can be locked in position by any suitable means such as spring clamp 86 Operation of the ticket dispensing mechanism may be briefly described as follows: Let it be assumed that tickets from the ticket receptacle 13 have been suitably threaded onto the drum 19 and that it is desired to dispense a ticket from the dispensing slot 18. The ticket dispensing mechanism may then be assumed to be in the position shown in Figures 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. Upon movement of the arm 42 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 3, the pin 39 will also be moved in a counterclockwise direction in arcuate slot 48. Movement of pin 39 causes it to engage the ear 61 to depress the actuating lever 57 in a downward direction to cause the dog 54 to release the detent 51. After the dog 54 has released the detent 51, the pawl 33 will come into engagement with one of the notches 32. Since the pawl 33 is attached to the sector shaped member 36 which in turn is attached to the pin 39, continued movement of the pin 39 in a counterclockwise direction will cause counterclockwise rotation of the drum 19. Movement of the pin 39 continues until it comes to the other end of the slot 48, the length of the slot and spacing of the notches 32 and detents 51 being determined by the length of the ticket being dispensed.

When the pin 39 is reaching this position in the slot 48,

the detent catch 52 will be pushed or cammed away from I the side of the drum by the detent 51 just released by the dog 54. When the pin 39 reaches the end of the slot, the detent catch will be released by the detent 51 and drop behind it. The detent catch 52 thus engages the detent 51 and prevents reverse rotation of the drum 19 after the pin 39 has reached the end of the slot 48.

At the same time that the detent catch 52 is being released by the detent 51 the dog 54 will come into engagement withthe next detent 51 to prevent further counterclockwise rotation of the drum 21. Thus, in this position of the pin 39, the drum cannot be rotated either in a counterclockwise or a clockwise direction.

When the pin 39 has reached this furthermost position, a ticket will have been dispensed through the slot 18 and it may be torn therefrom at this time.

To prepare the device for dispensing another ticket, it is merely necessary to move the pin 39 in a clockwise direction and return it to the position shown in Figure 3. In doing this, pawl 33 is also rotated in a clockwise direction whereby it will be lifted away from the notch 32 it had previously engaged and rotated until it drops into the next preceding notch 32. In this position it will be in con dition to advance drum 19 another predetermined distance.

It is apparent that the return movement of pin 39 will cause it to come into engagement with ear 61 of the actuating member 57, but in this case, the dog 54 will not be pressed downwardly because the actuating member 57 will be rotated in a clockwise direction in groove 59, as viewed in Figures and 7 into an out-of-the-way position until after the pin 39 had passed over it, after which it will snap back into the position shown in Figures 5 and 7.

In this position, the ticket dispensing mechanism is again in position to be actuated. to dispense another ticket.

counterclockwise rotation of the pin 39 will cause depression of the dog 54 to release the detent 51 and to then cause the same sequence of operation as related above.

Any suitable means may be utilized for advancing the arm 42 and the pin 39. One means found to be suitable consists of an L-shaped arm 91 which is provided with a substantially rectangular slot 92 adapted to accommodate the pin 46 fixed to the arm 42. Arm 92 is fixed to the coin slide 14 by suitable means such as bolts 93. The coin slide can be of any suitable type embodying rectilinear motion. It is apparent from Figure 2 that the rectilinear motion of the coin slide 14 will be translated into arcuate motion by means of the pin 46 coacting with the slot 92 in arm 91. Thus, a ticket can be obtained from the device only if a predetermined amount of coin has been placed in coin slide 14.

If desired, a rear cover 96 may be provided to enclose the entire assembly.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that we have provided a ticket dispensing device which is suitable for dispensing tickets at unattended locations. Tickets may be obtained only by placing a predetermined amount of coin in the coin slide 14 and then actuating the coin slide which in turn actuates the ticket dispensing mechanism to eject a ticket from the slot 18. The ticket dispensing mechanism is relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture. Its working parts have been kept at a minimum and none is subject to excessive wear.

We claim:

1. In a ticket dispensing device of the type having control means, a dispensing slot, and ticket storage means having a plurality of serially connected tickets stored therein, a ticket dispensing mechanism comprising a drum upon rotation in one direction adapted to carry tickets from said storage means and discharge the same from said dispensing slot, a plurality of detents on said drum, a dog adapted to engage said detents to prevent rotation of said drum in said one direction, a ratchet wheel fixed on said drum, a member rotatably mounted on said drum, a pawl pivotally mounted on said member and adapted to engage said ratchet wheel, a pin mounted on said member, means associated with said pin and connected to said control means whereby upon longitudinal movement of said control means, said pin will be moved a predetermined arcnate distance, means connected to said dog and operable by movement of said pin whereby upon initial movement of the pin said dog will release said detent it is engaging and then move back into a detent engaging position, said drum being rotated in one direction for a predetermined distance upon movement of said pin for a predetermined arcuate distance, said dog engaging another of said detents after completion of rotation of said drum for said predetermined distance, and means engaging one of said detents to prevent rotation of said drum in the opposite direction after completion of rotation of said drum for said predetermined distance.

2. In a ticket dispensing device, a housing, a framework mounted within said housing, a shaft journalled in said framework, a drum mounted on said shaft, ticket storage means mounted within said housing and having a plurality of serially connected tickets therein, said drum upon rotation in one direction being adapted to feed tickets through ai dispensing slot in said housing, a plurality of detents on said drum, a dog pivotally mounted on said framework and adapted to engage said detents to prevent rotation of said drum in said one direction, a ratchet wheel fixed to said drum and rotatable therewith, a member journalled on said shaft, a pawl pivotally mounted on said member and'adapted to engage said ratchet wheel, a pin mounted on said member and adapted to be moved between the ends of an arcuate slot in said framework, a coin slide mounted in said housing, means connecting said coin slide to said pin whereby upon operation of said coin slide said pin will be moved in said slot, means connected to said dog and operable by movement of said pin whereby upon initial movement of said pin, said dog will be moved to a detent releasing position and then will be allowed to move back into a detent engaging position, said drum being rotated a predetermined distance upon movement of said pin to cause ejection of a ticket from the dispensing slot, said dog engaging one of said detents after rotation of said drum a predetermined distance, and means mounted on said framework to prevent rotation of said drum in an opposite direction after completion of rotation of said drum through said predetermined distance.

3. In a ticket dispensing device of the type having control means, a dispensing slot, and ticket storage means having a plurality of serially connected tickets stored therein, a ticket dispensing mechanism comprising a drum upon rotation in one direction adapted to carry tickets from said storage means and discharge the same through said dispensing slot, a plurality of detents on said drum, a dog fixed with respect to said drum and adapted to engage said detents to prevent rotation of said drum in said one direction, a ratchet wheel fixed on said drum, a member rotatably mounted with respect to said drum, a pawl pivotally mounted on said member and adapted to engage said ratchet wheel, means associated with said pin and connected to said control means whereby upon operation of said control means said pin will be moved, an actuating lever pivotally mounted on said dog, the actuating lever being adapted to be engaged by said pin whereby upon initial movement of said pin said dog will be moved to a detent releasing position and then allowed to move back into a detent engaging position, the movement of the pin causing the drum to be moved a predetermined distance to eject a ticket through the dispensing slot, said dog engaging one of said detents after completion of rotation of said drum through said predetermined distance, and means engaging one of said detents to prevent rotation of said drum in the opposite direction after rotation of said drum through said predetermined distance.

4. In a ticket dispensing device, a housing, a framework mounted within said housing, a shaft journalled in said framework, a drum mounted on said shaft, ticket 6 storage means mounted within said housing and having a plurality of serially connected tickets stored therein, said drum upon rotation in one direction being adapted to feed tickets through a dispensing slot in said housing, a plurality of detents on said drum, a dog pivotally mounted on said framework and adapted to engage said detents to prevent rotation of said drum in said one direction, a ratchet wheel fixed to said drum and rotatable therewith, a member journalled on said shaft, a pawl pivotally mounted on said member and adapted to engage said ratchet wheel, a pin mounted on said member and adapted to be moved between the ends of an arcuate slot in said framework, a coin slide mounted in said housing, means connecting said coin slide to said pin whereby upon movement of said coin slide said pin will be moved from one end of said slot to the other, an operating lever pivotally connected to said dog, means for continuously urging said dog into a detent engaging position, said operating lever for said dog being adapted to be engaged by said pin whereby upon initial movement of said pin said dog will be moved to a detent releasing position, said dog returning to a detent engaging position as soon as said pin no longer engages said operating lever, said drum being rotated a predetermined distance upon movement of said pin from one end of said slot to the other to cause ejection of a ticket from the dispensing slot, said dog engaging one of said detents after rotation of said drum a predetermined distance, and means to prevent rotation of said drum in an opposite direction after completion of rotation of said drum through said predetermined distance.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,245,391 Schmidt Nov. 6, 1917 1,394,559 Koehler Oct. 25, 1921 1,553,534 Hunt Sept. 15, 1925 1,736,710 Hulin Nov. 19, 1929 2,271,073 Harris Ian. 27, 1942 

